FOR LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 18

FOR LONDON

MANY FRENCH CANVASES

There is still a cortain amount of mystery about the number of pictures to be sent from Franco to tho Exhibition of French Art at Burlington House (says the London "Daily Telegraph" art critic).

I was informed that a full list would certainly be published soon, but that for the moment it was impossible to state even approximately how many pictures would bo lent by the Louvre.

In some quarters it is said that between 250 and 300 pictures from French private and public art galleries will bo seen in London, and that between 20 and 30 of them will probably be supplied by the Louvre. One porson with whom I discussed the matter admitted that the British rule about not sending abroad pictures in the national collection had, influenced some curators of art galleries and private collectors in France unfavourably, and that, but for this rule, more paintings might have been lent.

It was asserted in an article published in "Comoedia" that the Louvre authorities, acting on advice that they had received from "higher circles," were showing great reluctance to contribute more than a vory limited number of canvases. One of tho Fronch organisers, M. Louis Metman, assured me, however, that this was not so, and subsequently the following noto was communicated to the Press by tho Un-dor-Secretary of State for Tine Arts:—

"Contrary to the statements published in certain newspapers, tho London Exhibition which opens on 4th January will include, as has always been understood, works belonging to the national collection, and notably to the Louvre. The organising committee, in full accord with the Government, will neglect nothing to ensure for this manifestation the importance and the distinction warranted by the artistic reputation of Prance."

The attitude of London art experts is decidedly in favour of the Louvre sending as many pictures to. Burlington House as it conveniently can. It is true that the National Gallery is unable to contribute to the Burlington House exhibition. The law as it at present stands, in spite of the recommendation of the Eoyal Commission on Museums and Galleries, does not allow the trustees to do what everybody knows they would like to do, namely, to transfer Trench pictures from the national collection.